[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11740-11742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4087]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Parts 19 and 52

[FAC 2005-01; FAR Case 2004-036; Item IV]
RIN 9000-AK14


Federal Acquisition Regulation; Addition of Landscaping and Pest 
Control Services to the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration 
Program

AGENCIES:  Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration 
(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION:  Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY:  The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense 
Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed on an interim 
rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) regarding the 
addition of landscaping and pest control services to the Small Business 
Competitiveness Demonstration Program. This FAR revision implements 
Section 821 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2005, Public Law 108-375, which amends Section 717 of 
the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program Act of 1988 
(15 U.S.C. 644 note) to include landscaping and pest control services.

DATES: Effective Date: March 9, 2005.
    Comment Date: Interested parties should submit comments to the FAR 
Secretariat at the address shown below on or before May 9, 2005 to be 
considered in the formulation of a final rule.

ADDRESSES:  Submit comments identified by FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2004-
036 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Agency Web Site: http://www.acqnet.gov/far/ProposedRules/proposed.htm. Click on the FAR case number to submit comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include FAC 2005-01, FAR 
case 2004-036 in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: 202-501-4067.
     Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory 
Secretariat

[[Page 11741]]

(VIR), 1800 F Street, NW, Room 4035, ATTN: Laurieann Duarte, 
Washington, DC 20405.
    Instructions: Please submit comments only and cite FAC 2005-01, FAR 
case 2004-036, in all correspondence related to this case. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.acqnet.gov/far/ProposedRules/proposed.htm, including any personal information 
provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  The FAR Secretariat at (202) 501-
4755, for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. 
For clarification of content, contact Ms. Kimberly Marshall, 
Procurement Analyst, at (202) 219-0986. Please cite FAC 2005-01, FAR 
case 2004-036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    This interim rule amends the FAR to implement Section 821 of the 
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2005, Public Law 108-375, which amends Section 717 of the Small 
Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 
644 note). The law amends the Small Business Competitiveness 
Demonstration Program to include landscaping and pest control services. 
The emerging small business reserve amount for these new services is 
set at $25,000.
    This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not 
subject to review under Section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is 
not a major rule under5 U.S.C. 804.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The changes may have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., because there will be additional 
categories added to the designated industry groups listed in FAR 
19.1005. This rule adds landscaping (561730) and pest control (561710) 
services to the list of National American Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) codes included as designated industry groups of the 
Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program. The Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Act is summarized as follows:
    The objective of the interim rule is to further assess the 
ability of small business concerns to compete successfully in 
certain industry categories without competition being restricted by 
the use of small business set-asides. The implementation of Section 
821 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2005, Public Law 108-375 will change the FAR as follows: 
(1) revises the designated industry groups to include Exterminating 
and Pest Control Services and Landscaping Services in the definition 
of ``Emerging small business reserve amount'' at FAR 19.1002(1) and 
in 19.1005(a); (2) deletes the word ``four'' before designated 
industry groups in the FAR.
    The interim rule will apply to all small business concerns that 
compete on Federal acquisitions falling under NAICS codes 561730 and 
561710. Based on Governmentwide data retrieved from the Federal 
Procurement Data System (FPDS) for the specified NAICS codes, 
approximately 141 small business concerns were awarded contracts of 
$25,000 or more on an unrestricted basis in Fiscal Year 2002 for 
NAICS code 561730. This represents about 88 percent of all contracts 
awarded with unrestricted competition for that NAICS code. In Fiscal 
Year 2003, there were 116 contracts awarded to small business 
concerns on an unrestricted basis, which represents approximately 81 
percent of all contracts awarded with unrestricted competition for 
that NAICS codes. FPDS data also show that 25 small business 
concerns were awarded contracts of $25,000 or more on an 
unrestricted basis in Fiscal Year 2002 for NAICS code 561710. This 
represents about 56 percent of all contracts awarded with 
unrestricted competition for that NAICS code. In Fiscal Year 2003, 
there were 17 contracts awarded to small business concerns on an 
unrestricted basis, which represents approximately 77 percent of all 
contracts awarded with unrestricted competition for that NAICS 
codes. It is estimated that small business concerns will continue to 
be successful in winning at least one-half to three-fourths of 
awards on an unrestricted basis when these designated industry 
groups are added to the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration 
Programs given the history of their success in recent unrestricted 
competitive government acquisitions falling under NAICS codes 561730 
and 561710. Additional data retrieved from FPDS show that the number 
of small business set-asides for NAICS code 561730 in Fiscal Years 
2002 and 2003 combined was approximately 952 and the number of small 
business set-asides for NAICS code 561710 in Fiscal Years 2002 and 
2003 combined was approximately 96.
    The changes may have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities within the meaning of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5.U.S.C. 601, et seq., because 
previously set-aside acquisitions for services falling within NAICS 
codes 561730 and 561710 will now be included in the designated 
industry groups of the Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration 
Program. FAR 19.1007(b) states that--
     ``Solicitations for acquisitions in any of the designated 
industry groups that have an anticipated dollar value greater than 
the emerging small business reserve amount must not be considered 
for small business set-asides under Subpart 19.5. However, agencies 
may reinstate the use of small business set-asides as necessary to 
meet their assigned goals, but only within organizational units that 
failed to meet the small business participation goal. Acquisitions 
in the designated industry groups must continue to be considered for 
placement under the 8(a) Program (see Subpart 19.8), the HUBZone 
Program (see Subpart 19.13), and the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned 
Small Business Procurement Program (see Subpart 19.14).''
    Given the large number of awards made under these NAICS codes, 
it is anticipated that the addition of the 2 NAICS codes to the 
Small Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program will promote an 
increased number of opportunities for small business concerns to 
develop teaming arrangements and joint ventures.
    The purpose of the Competitiveness Demonstration Program is to 
assess the ability of small businesses to compete successfully in 
certain industry categories without competition being restricted by 
the use of small business set-asides. This portion of the program is 
limited to the four designated industry groups listed in FAR 
19.1005(a) and will include the addition of landscaping and pest 
control services to the designated industry groups. The interim rule 
imposes no reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance 
requirements. The interim rule does not duplicate, overlap, or 
conflict with any other Federal rules. There are no practical 
alternatives that will accomplish the objectives of this interim 
rule.
    The FAR Secretariat has submitted a copy of the IRFA to the Chief 
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. Interested 
parties may obtain a copy from the FAR Secretariat. The Councils will 
consider comments from small entities concerning the affected FAR Parts 
19 and 52 in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Interested parties must 
submit such comments separately and should cite 5 U.S.C 601, et seq. 
(FAC 2005-01, FAR case 2004-036), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to 
the FAR do not impose information collection requirements that require 
the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 
3501, et seq.

D. Determination to Issue an Interim Rule

    A determination has been made under the authority of the Secretary 
of Defense (DoD), the Administrator of General Services (GSA), and the 
Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
(NASA) that urgent and compelling reasons exist to promulgate this 
interim rule without prior opportunity for public comment. This action 
is necessary because the interim rule includes FAR text revisions

[[Page 11742]]

required to implement the recently enacted Public Law 108-375, Ronald 
W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 
(October 28, 2004), Section 821, which amends Section 717 of the Small 
Business Competitiveness Demonstration Program Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 
644 note). However, pursuant to Public Law 98-577 and FAR 1.501, the 
Councils will consider public comments received in response to this 
interim rule in the formation of the final rule.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Parts 19 and 52

    Government procurement.

    Dated: February 24, 2005
Rodney P. Lantier,
Director,Contract Policy Division.

0
Therefore, DoD, GSA, and NASA amend 48 CFR parts 19 and 52 as set forth 
below:
0
1. The authority citation for 48 CFR parts 19 and 52 is revised to read 
as follows:

    Authority:  40 U.S.C. 121(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42 
U.S.C. 2473(c).

PART 19--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS


19.502-2  [Amended]

0
2. Amend section 19.502-2 in paragraph (d) by removing the word 
``four''.
0
3. In section 19.1002 revise paragraph (1) of the definition ``Emerging 
small business reserve amount'' to read as follows:


19.1002  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Emerging small business reserve amount * * *
    (1) $25,000 for construction, refuse systems and related services, 
non-nuclear ship repair, landscaping and pest control services; and
* * * * *
0
4. Amend section 19.1005 in paragraph (a) by adding an Item 5 to the 
``NAICS Description'' to read as follows:


19.1005  Applicability.

     (a) * * *
    NAICS CODE NAICS DESCRIPTION
* * * * *
    5. Landscaping and Pest Control
     Services
    561710 Exterminating and Pest
     Control Services
    561730 Landscaping Services
* * * * *


19.1001, 19.1003, 19.1007, and19.1008  [Amended]

0
5. In addition to the amendments set forth above, remove the word 
``four'' in the following places:(a) Section 19.1001(a);(b) Section 
19.1003(a) and (c);(c) Section 19.1007(b) and (c); and(d) Section 
19.1008(a).

PART 52--SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES

0
6. Amend section 52.212-3 by revising the date of the clause to read 
``(MAR 2005)'' and by removing from paragraphs (c)(8)(i) and (c)(8)(ii) 
the word ``four'' wherever it appears.
[FR Doc. 05-4087 Filed 3-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S